Illuminated sign



May 19, 1925.-

; M. NORDEN ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed Feb. .14

lllllll jhATToRNEYs V having flat surfaces.

Patented May 19; 1925.

. .UNlTEDf-STA vron'rIMER nonnnlv,-'or new iron-K, N. Y.

. ILnuMINA'rEnsIGN.

Application filed February 14, 1924. scan umsee'm's.

Toal 'l whom it may conc'cmfl' I Be it known that 1,1;hIORTTMER Norman, a citizen of the United States, residing at the borough of Manhattan, in the city,'county, and State .of New York, have' invented an Improvement in Illuminated Signs, of-

which the following is a specificatioin My invention relates. to that character fof signsgenerally employed to indicate the location of telephone booths, exits in theatres and other-public buildings, elevators. and fire escapes in hotels, .whlch signs cornn'lon-ly comprise a casing having a glass front or M sides'u'ponwhich is painted-the letters forming the word or words to be displayed,- the glass beingilluminatedby'a lamp behind it within the casing. Such signs are usually dull and often very unsightly. The object of my present invention is to render signs of such character moreefiective and artistic- The details of construction and operation are hereinafter particularly described.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sign rmbodylng my invention. r

Fig. 2' is a similar view, in larger size, the frame on one side being removed, and the glass plate broken away.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 33 of Fig. 1 and o n Fig. 4 is a fragmental section taken on theline 4-4 of Fig 3. j i

Similar reference characters denote like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, 10 indicates a rectangular frame open on both sides and This frame maybe made of any suitable material, but is preferably of sheet metal having its top, bottom and ends folded over upon itself a predetermined distance and then bent at right angles forming the longitudinal flanges 11, 12, 13 and 14, and vertical flanges 15,16, 17 and 18. y

19 denotes a reflector, consisting of a flat plate of suitable material, preferably metal, enameled on both sides, located in the center of the frame 10, and extending the full length of said frame, being secured thereto in any suitable manner, such as by solder at its ends and bottom.

. Spacers 20, 21, 22 and 23, are secured to the opposite sides of the reflector 19, by solder or otherwise, at the ends of the reflector, having right angle bends forming vertical sockets 24, 25, 26 and 27, into which are fitted the two glass plates 28 and 29. in such manner that these glass plates are supported parallel with the reflector and at equal distance from it. on either side. These glass plates are f-preferably transparent.

, Letters 30, forming the word or words desired to be displayed, are cemented to the glass plates in a line across the longitudinal centers of the'plates, These letters or numerals 30, are preferably of glass, gilded, silvered, or otherwise colored.

V Hollow..moldings 31 and 32, are fitted into the frame 10 on either side, in front of the? glass plates 28 and29. These, hollow moldings are preferably filled in with a suitable material 33, such as wood.

Screw holes are formed in each end of the frame 10, through which pass screws 34, which screw into the filling material in V the moldings'and secure such moldings in, I place upon the frame.

Integral with, or secured to the top of each molding 31 and 32, is a hollow member 35, extending the full length of the mold ings. These hollow members 35 are preferably of substantially square formation, the top of each fitting under the folded over portion of the top of the frame 10 and abutting against the downwardly turned portions thereof. Between these hollow members 35, and directly in the center of the frame 10, at its top and above the top of the reflector 19, and glass plates 28 and 29, there is arranged a lamp or lamps 36in such-manner that'the rays of light from thelamp or lamps strike both sides of the reflector 19 equally, and also the backs or inner surfaces of the glass plates 28 and 29, brightly illuminating such plates and causing the letters or numerals upon their front surfaces to stand out very conspicuously.

I prefer to make use of a tubular lamp as shown, the nipple 37, of the socket 38, projecting-through an opening in one end of the frame 10 provided for that purpose, the opposite end of the lamp bulb being sup portedby a strap or band 39, the ends of which are secured to the downwardly projeoting ends of the folded portion of the top of the frame 10, by solder or otherwise.

It is preferable to provide spaced ventilating openings 40, in the top of the frame 10; and to prevent dust or other foreign.

matter which might enter such openings, being deposited upon the lamp 36. I provide guards ll beneath such openings, which guards are hung from the under surface of the top of the frame 10.

The conductor Wires 42, extending from the lamp socket 38 are provided with the customary plug 43.

The sign may be hung, or supported upon a bracket of any suitable character, according to the position it is to occupy when in use.

By the use of my improvement, the source of light is concealed, the sign is pleasing to the eye and of artistic appearance, the rays of light are uniformly distributed, the glass plates are brightly and evenly illuminated, and the letters upon their front surfaces stand out most conspicuously.

I claim as my invention:

1. An illuminated sign comprising a rectangular frame open on both sides, a reflector centrally arranged Within the frame and secured thereto, spacers connected to said reflector at each end and forming sockets on each side thereof, a glass plate fitted Within each of said sockets, letters fixed in relief upon the front surface of each plate, a molding fitted into said frame at each side thereof and provided With a hollow top member extending longitudinally thereof forming a housing above the top of said refiector and glass plates, and a source of light Within said housing.

2. An illuminated sign comprising a rectangular frame open on both sides, a flat vertical opaque plate enamelled on both sides located in the center of the frame, secured thereto and extending its full length, spacers secured to the ends of said plate and having right angle bends forming vertical sockets, a transparent plate fitted into each of said sockets and supported thereby parallel with said central opaque plate at equal distance therefrom, solid letters secured to said transparent plates in a line across the longitudinal center thereof, a hollow top member secured to the frame, and a source of light within said member.

Signed by me this 7th day of February, 1924.

MORTIMER NORDEN. 

